Hand tool



March 1 2, 1929. e. w. REAMS HAND TOOL Filed April 17, 1926 INVENTOR.

Hi (ATTORNEY.

I l ll-lull Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

barren STATES.

GEORGE w. BEAMS, orxaivsns crrY, ivrrssoiiai.

HAND TooL.

Application filed. April 17, 1926; semi rte-102,678.

My invention relates to improvements hand tools. It is of a type having a bit adapted to be stored in the handle of the implement, when not in use, or to be used with a plurality of bits for difierent purposes. It is particularly adapted for use as an ice pick, an awl ora stiletto, but may be used as a screw driver or for various other purposes.

One of the objects of my invention-is to provide a tool of the kind, which is novel, simple, cheap, durable, not liable to get out of order, and which may have the bit stored in the handle for compactness and to pr e vent injury to the person or other objects, such as might occur with sharp portions of a bit which has such portions exposed.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

'Fig. 1 is a View of my improved tool shown partly in vertical section,and partly in elevation, the bit shown being adapted for use as an ice pick, awl or stilette, and being shown stored in the handle.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, with the bitshown inthe operative gripped position. 7 I v Fig. 3 is a view similar to Flg. 1, the bit being shown in the projecting releasedposition.

Fig. 4 is a top end view of what is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom end view of the same.

6 is a cross section on the line (3 6 or Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on theline 77 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a screw driver bit adapted for use with the handle shown. Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

The handle of the tool comprises a tubular body 1 having a bottom end opening 2, Fig. 5, and provided with an internally threaded upper end in which is removably fitted a cap 3, which may have pivoted to it a bail 4 for suspending the tool from a nail or a chain. j Slidably mounted in the handle'is a bit holder comprising a U-shaped member 5, which extends through and is slidably fitted in a guide ring 6 fastened in and to the body 1. The member 5 is also extended through and is sli dable inthe'end opening 2. The lower portions of the arms of the member 5' are resilient, and when free so to do diyerge outwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower ends of the arms of the member 5 are lnwardly turned to form two gripping jaws 7 disposed opposite to each other, andare adapted to respectively enter two notches 8 in opposite sides respectively of a shank 9' of a bit, such as an ice pick or an awl bit 10, as shown in Fig.2,

The bit shank 9 is slidably fitted between the arms of the U-shaped member 5, so as to be movable from a position wholly within orot' a screw driver bit 11, shown in Fig. 8; 3

the member 5, or to the gripped position shown in Fig. 2.

The bit holder member 5 is movable from the fully extended position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in Fig. 1,,in which the jaws 7 will completely close the end opening 2. In the last named position of the memdle. v

Forming a partof clrcling the arms of the member 5 in the her 5, the bit will be wholly within the ham the bit holder and en body 1 is a ring 12, which is rigidly fastened 7 to the arms oi the member 5, and which has a lateral projection 13 which extends through and is' slidable-in a longitudinal slot 1 1 in the side of the body 1'.

, The projection 13 ,mayhave'on itsouter end a button 15 for engagement with'the thumb, in order that the bit holder may be forced downwardly to the gripping inter mediate position and to the release position, shown in Fig.1 3. i

For automatically forcing the bitholderfi to the uppermost position'in which the jaws 7 will close the opening 2, a coil spring 16 encircles the arms "of the' member 5, and

bears at its lower. end on the bottom of the body 1, the upper end having a bearing against the'under side of the ring 12.

To prevent the bit from accidentally dropping out of the bit holder when the latter is in the releasing position, shown in Fig. 3, a pin 17 extends through and projects from the shank 9 above the ring 12, so as to engage the latter. This pin is re movable, to permit the bit being removed, by turning the body 1 bottom end up, when the holderis in the release position. 'Fig.

3, upon which. the bit will drop against. the transverse port on of the member 5. The

member 5 is then permitted to be forced by.

versing this operation, the bit 10 or anotherbit, such as the bit 11, Fig. 8, may be inserted in the bit holder and the pin 17 extended tl'iroughthe bit shank to retain the bit in the bit holder.

In the operation of the tool, the parts being as shown in Fig. 1,.the button 15 is forced downwardly, to a position in which the bit holder will be as inFig. 3. The/hit is then permitted to drop to the position shown in'Fig. 2, after which the bit holder with the bit engaged by the jaws 7 is forced upwardly by the spring 12,the body 1 forcing the jaws tightly against the bit in the notches 8.

After use of the tool, the parts may be re stored to the position shown in Fig. 1, by forcing the bit holder to the release position, Fig. 3, then reversing the handle, upon which the 'bit will drop down against the tran verse portion of the member 5, after which thepressure on the button 15 is released and the spring l2 permitted to force. the bit holder to'the position shown in Fig 1, in

V which the opening 2 will be entirely elosed by the jaws 7. The bit will thusbc retained wholly within. the handle. 7 I

I do not limit my invention to thestructure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention,

What I claim is: I

1. In a hand tool, a hollow handle having an end opening, a bit holder having bit gripping means and slidable in said. opening from a position closing said opening to a projecting bit releasing position, and slidable to an intermediate positionengaging the handle and arranged to be forced by the handle to a bit ripping position, the holder having means far being manually forced to said releasing position, means for automatically forcing the holder to said opening closing position, and a bit slidable inwardly in said holder from the gripping position toa position wholly within said holder, the bit having releasable means for engaging the holder to prevent the bit from slipping out of the holder when the latter is in the projecting releasing position.

2. In a hand tool, a hollow handle having an end opening and a side slot, a bit holder comprising a. U shapedmember having re silient arms provided respectively with. inwardly extending gripping jaws, and a ring in said handle fastened to and encircling said arms and having a projection extending through and slidable in said slot for manually depressing said U shaped member, the latter being slidable in said opening from a position in which said arms will close said opening to a projecting position in whiehthe normal tension of said arms will force them away from each other so as to release the jaws from a bit engaged thereby, and movable to an intermediate position in. which the arms will engage the handle and be forced thereby to a bit engaging position, a coil spring encircling said arms in said handleand hearing at one end. against the latter and at the other end bearing against said ring for forciing the holder to the opening closing posi' tion, and a bit slidable between the arms of said U shaped member from a position wholly within the latter to a predetermined projecting position and having two oppositely disposed notches adapted to respectively receive said jaws.

3. In a hand. tool, a hollow handle having an open end and a side slot, a U shaped bit holder having resilient arms reciprocative in said handle to and from an. open divergmg position and having at their outer ends aws adapted to grip a bit when forced inwardly to a gripping position, and a ring encircling and fastened tosaid arms and slidable therewith in said handle, and provided with an operating projection extending through and slidable in said slot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE IV. BEAMS. 

